Vanessa Truett Accepts the Love and Support at the Chicks Connect Inspiration Celebration 2017

Vanessa Truett Accepts the Love and Support at the Chicks Connect Inspiration Celebration 2017

Imagine getting up in front of a room full of virtual strangers and telling the part of your story that typically only made itself known in the wee hours of the morning. The part of your story that has kept you from walking with your head held high for decades. The story that still 20 years later results in you crying and screaming in your sleep. The story, that you think if people knew, would result in the loss of everything you had worked so hard to build.

This time however, when I shared my story, a room full of women stood up and clapped. My heart was racing and I tried to run to my seat, but the CEO stopped me and held me with my arms open, encouraging me to accept the love that was being shown to me. Transformative.

That is precisely why I HAD to share. Because on many days I could walk through the town and no one would have a clue. Because I could hide that part of my story. Because in spite of- and perhaps because of- I was triumphant. Because so many of my sisters didn't have the option to hide it. So many never escaped. So many still there.